Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is the combination of social science, theory, and clinical expertise for understanding, avoiding, and treating psychologically related discomfort or dysfunction and promoting subjective well-being and personal growth. Psychological evaluation, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy are central to the profession of clinical psychology, but clinical psychologists also participate in research, education, consulting, forensic testimony, and program creation and administration.
Lightner Witmer's 1896 inauguration of the first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania is usually regarded as the beginning of the discipline. In the early half of the 20th century, clinical psychology was primarily concerned with a psychological evaluation, with therapy receiving little attention. This changed in the 1940s when the Second World War necessitated a substantial rise in the number of educated doctors. Since then, three major educational models have emerged in the United States: the Ph.D. Clinical Science model (with a strong emphasis on research), the Ph.D. science-practitioner model (integrating scientific research and practice), and the PsyD practitioner-scholar model (focusing on clinical theory and practice). In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the Clinical Psychology Doctorate lies between the latter two models, but in the majority of continental Europe, training is at the master's level and is primarily psychotherapeutic. Clinical psychologists are well-versed in psychotherapy and are often trained in four basic theoretical orientations: psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and systems or family therapy.
Clinical psychology and psychiatry are distinct. Even though practitioners in both professions are specialists in mental health, clinical psychologists typically treat mental illnesses via psychotherapy. Currently, only five states in the United States permit clinical psychologists with advanced specialist training to prescribe psychotropic drugs. These states are Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho. Psychiatrists are medical practitioners who specialize in the treatment of mental diseases using a range of techniques, including diagnostic evaluation, short psychotherapy, psychoactive drugs, and medical treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In addition, psychiatrists are legally permitted to administer psychotropic drugs in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Clinical psychologists attend a graduate institution and hold a doctorate in psychology (Psy.D.) or a Doctor of Psychology (Ph.D.) degree, whereas psychiatrists completed their education at a medical school and hold a medical degree (M.D.) or an osteopathic degree (D.O.), the latter of which is only available in the United States.